The pledge was signed by no teachers on Nov. 23, the day before. It now has eight pledges from St. Petersburg teachers.
They’re one of the thousands of US teachers pledging to continue educating students about the controversial Critical Race Theory, which explains racism is embedded in US culture and politics.
Comments from St. Petersburg teachers included, "This is an attack on academic freedom and on the teaching of an important subject, especially today—critical race theory" and "...we cannot move forward toward healing as a nation as long as our nation's history is told from one perspective or from one voice. I am an African American woman. I refuse to be silent concerning my people's role in building this country. Since 1619, my people have been here in America. There is no page, paragraph, sentence, or word of American history that we are not on it or in it. This much is true: The truth will set you free!".
Though the concept was first suggested in the late 70’s, it has recently exploded as a contentious issue between the American right and left in the last two years.
Many who signed the pledge are defying state bans on the teachings. Arizona, Idaho, Iowa, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas have passed legislation banning discussions about the US being inherently racist.
Other states, such as Montana and South Dakota, have denounced the teachings without passing specific legislation.
In an interview with The Washington Free Beacon', Ashley Varner of the Freedom Foundation accused the Zinn Education Project of providing “left-leaning propaganda to teachers.”
| Teachers | Thoughts on Critical Race Theory |
|---|---|
| Amanda Saayfan | I believe in facts. |
| Annette Wylie | Truth must be told. |
| Jen Brown | No comment |
| Melissa Rivera | No comment |
| Renee Obrien | No comment |
| Sharion Thurman-Reeves | ...we cannot move forward toward healing as a nation as long as our nation's history is told from one perspective or from one voice. I am an African American woman. I refuse to be silent concerning my people's role in building this country. Since 1619, my people have been here in America. There is no page, paragraph, sentence, or word of American history that we are not on it or in it. This much is true: The truth will set you free! |
| Sonja Franeta | This is an attack on academic freedom and on the teaching of an important subject, especially today—critical race theory |
| Vladimir Ulyanov | It is important to teach our youth to voluntarily give up their freedoms for the passed bad acts of their ancestors. The only way to put right all these wrongs is for the youth to be taught how bad things were in the past. The only reason those in the lower classes are there is because of these actions. Words, acceptance, reparation's are not enough the the upper class must become the enslaved. To reach a socialist utopia we must empower those in the lower class and only the "truth" as we teach it can reach our goal. |
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